SOCCER:Republic of Ireland coach Kevin McDonald has insisted that the question of whether Darron Gibson makes his competitive debut for the senior team in Bratislava or Prague will be decided entirely on merit despite claims by the Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington that he may yet be declared ineligible to play for the Republic.

The highly rated 19-year-old midfielder has been the focus of tension between the two associations since defecting to the Republic four years ago, and Worthington, recently appointed Northern Ireland boss, has made much of the issue over the last few weeks.

Gibson did initially play for Northern Ireland but the young Manchester United star then switched to the Republic and made his debut on October 21st, 2003, in an under-17 European Championship qualifier against Austria, a game that was played in Switzerland.

The teenager, who has played his way through the Republic's underage ranks since then and graduated to the senior team for last month's friendly win over Denmark, insists he has no interest in switching back. But the IFA claim the eligibility rules were effectively changed by the terms of the Good Friday agreement and the dropping of the Republic's territorial claim to the six counties, which, combined with alterations to Fifa's statutes prompted by Qatar's attempts to improve its team by granting passports to several Brazilians, means Gibson should play for them.

"I will be doing everything in my power to get him (Gibson) into our system," says Worthington, who has included another former Republic of Ireland youth international, Craigavon-born Tony Kane of Blackburn Rovers, in his squad for the games away to Latvia and Iceland. His employers, meanwhile, insist a Fifa ruling on the situation is pending.

"He's in the Republic squad but I really can't see them playing him," continued the manager. "If he plays and then Fifa deem he isn't eligible for them they could be punished, and they wouldn't take the risk of losing points when the decision could still go against them."

Merrion Square officials counter that Fifa wrote to both associations last October stating the status quo persisted and players from north of the Border remained eligible to play for the South if they so desired.

It was made clear under the terms of the political resolution of Northern Ireland's "troubles", they argue, that individuals would not lose their right to identify with the Republic or to assert that identity, and they claim to be unaware of any review of the situation at Fifa level.

Asked about the situation yesterday after the Ireland squad trained at Malahide, McDonald said, "Darron Gibson is an outstanding young footballer who's got a great opportunity to become a top-class player. The politics of football between Northern Ireland and other countries has nothing to with me. If Steve decides he wants to pick him that's going to be Steve's choice. From my point of view and from Steve's point of view, if Steve feels he is the right man to play on Saturday he will choose him - you know what he's like."

McDonald, meanwhile, said John O'Shea had fully recovered from the knock he picked up in training on Wednesday and there was no doubt at all regarding his fitness for Saturday's game.

"John is fine," he said. "He took a full part in training, so it's not a problem at all. We're continuing to get daily updates on Steve Finnan and Darren Potter from their clubs and we're still waiting to see if they can be with us in Prague."

Paul McShane, he added, continues to train in spite of the shoulder injury he sustained last week and he too will be available for selection in Bratislava even if he requires a painkilling injection to get him through the game.

"He trained today; it wasn't too intense a session and he came through it. He's still got a little niggle in his shoulder but he's fine.

"That (whether to take an injection or not) will be down to Paul and the people on the medical side. You know Paul McShane, though; he's a lad who's very keen to play for his country. He's one of those lads who will do anything to play and if that means he has a painkilling injection that's going to be up to Paul."

The coach, speaking in place of Steve Staunton, who surprised the assembled media and the association's own press conference by not crossing the pitch to field questions himself, said the squad were heading to Slovakia with real confidence and determination.

"We have a group of players who are undefeated in eight games, who are keen to do the best for their country and hopefully get the two right results that will push us on for the last three games of the campaign."